Rosa Martinez’s Diary

I have read that “Stress is the health epidemic of the 21st century,” on more than one occasion. It’s so bad for you that it can trigger many other diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, stomach ulcers, muscular aches and pains and even death.

Even though the majority of parents take holiday leave from work in the summer, they can only take 15 days (a month max) and then there is the problem of what to do with the little devils because they are going to be at home the entire time.

A new Constitution, which implies significant changes for society as a whole, will start being signed off by the Cuban people. However, while these matters of great interest for a more inclusive, fairer Cuba are being analyzed, something special is happening in my neighborhood…

Even though I read all of the comments people leave on some of my articles, I can almost never respond (because of limited Internet access), much less write to everyone who might reject or support my ideas.

Who hasn’t hitched a ride before? Asking for a ride, spending countless nights on local and interprovincial transport forms a part of our everyday routines, at least here in Cuba. I am already well over forty and I have spent half of my life hitching rides.

When they say “go to your classrooms”, these uniformed bodies all look the same: clean, ironed, straight, tight; apparently there’s no difference between one young kid and another. But, if you take a look at their shoes, their cell phone, watch or any other personal item, you begin to see differences.

There is a popular belief, at least here in Oriente, which says that everyone (adults and children) should drink water from the first downpour in May, Cuba’s wettest month, and if you don’t, you’ll suffer from terrible stomach cramps and diarrhea.

If there’s one subject I don’t like writing about it’s about our financial needs, read here: our food, clothing and everyday situation, because it feels like whining, like the Spanish say, and I really don’t like whining.